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Abstract:

A PCB fixing device includes a case having a plurality of sliding holes
spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of fixing members engaged
with and movable along the sliding holes, and configured to couple with
edges of a PCB to fix the PCB to the case. Accordingly, the position of
the PCB fixing device can be adjusted according to the size of the PCB by
moving the fixing member along the sliding hole. The PCB fixing device is
applicable to PCBs of various sizes and structures, and can reduce loss
resulting from a change in the specification of a PCB.

Claims:

1. A printed circuit board (PCB) fixing device for comprising: a case
comprising a plurality of sliding holes spaced apart from each other; and
a plurality of fixing members engaged with and movable along the sliding
holes, and configured to couple with edges of a PCB to fix the PCB to the
case.

2. The PCB fixing device of claim 1, wherein each of the fixing members
comprises: a moving part configured to move along the sliding hole; a
board coupling part installed on the moving part and coupled to one of
the edges of the PCB; and a fastening part configured to fasten the board
coupling part and the moving part.

3. The PCB fixing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
plurality of sliding holes is formed at a position corresponding to each
of the edges of the PCB.

4. The PCB fixing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sliding
holes comprise at least one left sliding hole, at least one right sliding
hole, at least one upper sliding hole, and at least one lower sliding
hole, each of which extends in a direction perpendicular to one of the
four edges of the PCB.

5. The PCB fixing device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fixing
members comprises at least one left fixing member, at least one right
fixing member, at least one upper fixing member, and at least one lower
fixing member that are located in the at least one left sliding hole, the
at least one right sliding hole, the at least one upper sliding hole, and
the at least one lower sliding hole, respectively.

6. The PCB fixing device of claim 5, wherein one of the at least one left
sliding hole, the at least one right sliding hole, the at least one upper
sliding hole, and at least one the lower sliding hole comprises two or
more sliding holes, and wherein one of the at least one left fixing
member, the at least one right fixing member, the at least one upper
fixing member, and the at least one lower fixing member comprises two or
more fixing members.

7. The PCB fixing device of claim 2, further comprising an engaging
portion formed adjacent to one of the sliding holes and over a bottom
surface of the case.

8. The PCB fixing device of claim 7, wherein the moving part comprises: a
lower moving part configured to engage with the engaging portion; and an
upper moving part disposed between the lower moving part and the board
coupling part.

9. The PCB fixing device of claim 8, wherein the position of the board
coupling part configured to be adjusted as the moving part moves along
the sliding hole.

10. The PCB fixing device of claim 2, wherein the fastening part has a
bolt shape.

11. The PCB fixing device of claim 8, wherein the board coupling part
comprises a coupling hole at a position corresponding to the fastening
part, the upper moving part comprises an upper moving hole at a position
corresponding to the coupling hole, the lower moving part comprises a nut
portion at a position corresponding to the upper moving hole, the
fastening part is configured to pass through the coupling hole and the
upper moving hole and further configured to engage with the nut portion.

12. The PCB fixing device of claim 2, wherein the board coupling part
comprises a coupling groove into which the edge of the circuit substrate
is inserted.

13. A flat panel display comprising: a flat display panel configured to
display an image; a case comprising a plurality of sliding holes spaced
apart from each other; a PCB attached to the case; and a PCB fixing
device configured to fix the PCB to the case.

14. The flat panel display of claim 13, wherein the PCB fixing device
comprises a plurality of fixing members configured to move along the
sliding holes, and further configured to fasten edges of the PCB to fix
the PCB.

15. The flat panel display of claim 14, wherein each of the fixing
members comprises: a moving part configured to move along the sliding
hole; a board coupling part installed on the moving part and coupled to
one of the edges of the PCB; and a fastening part configured to fasten
the board coupling part and the moving part.

16. The flat panel display of claim 15, wherein the board coupling part
and the fastening part are located opposite to the flat display panel
with respect to the case.

17. The flat panel display of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sliding
holes partly overlaps with the PCB.

Description:

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2010-0118336 filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Nov. 25, 2010, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] The described technology relates generally to a printed circuit
board fixing device and a flat panel display including the same.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Technology

[0005] In general, a flat panel display comprises a liquid crystal display
panel, an organic light emitting display panel, etc. The flat panel
display further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a drive
element mounted therein for the driving and signal processing of a
display panel, a terminal for connecting and supplying a signal, a power
source, etc., and a case for mounting and protecting the display panel,
the printed circuit board, the terminal, etc.

[0006] In general, the PCB is correctly situated and fixed on a
predetermined position of the case. To this end, a PCB fixing structure
is usually used. A hole is formed in the PCB, a PEM nut is attached to
the case, and then a screw is put through the hole of the PCB to fasten
the PCB to the PEM nut.

[0007] However, in the event of a dimensional error or positioning error
between the PCB fixing device (the PEM nut and the screw) and the hole of
the PCB due to a manufacturing error, it is difficult to assemble the PCB
to the case.

[0008] Adjusting of such errors is time consuming and even very hard when
PCBs have various sizes.

[0009] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only
for enhancement of understanding the background of the described
technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form
the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of
ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

[0010] An aspect of the invention provides a PCB fixing device, which
minimizes a coupling error between the PCB fixing device and a PCB and is
applicable to PCBs of various sizes, and a flat panel display including
the same.

[0011] An embodiment provides a PCB fixing device including: a case having
a plurality of sliding holes spaced apart from each other; and a
plurality of fixing members engaged with and movable along the sliding
holes, and coupling with edges of a PCB to fix the PCB to the case.

[0012] Each of the fixing members may include: a moving part moving along
the sliding hole; a board coupling part installed on the moving part and
coupled to an edge of the PCB; and a fastening part fastening the board
coupling part and the moving part.

[0013] At least one sliding hole may be formed at a position corresponding
to each of the edges of the PCB.

[0014] The plurality of sliding holes may include at least one left
sliding hole, at least one right sliding hole, at least one upper sliding
hole, and at least one lower sliding hole, each of which extends in a
direction perpendicular to one of four edges of the PCB.

[0015] The plurality of fixing members may include at least one left
fixing member, at least one right fixing member, at least one upper
fixing member, and at least one lower fixing member that are located in
the at least one left sliding hole, the at least one right sliding hole,
the at least one upper sliding hole, and the at least one lower sliding
hole, respectively.

[0016] One of the at least one left sliding hole, the at least one right
sliding hole, the at least one upper sliding hole, and the at least one
lower sliding hole may include two or more sliding holes, and one of the
at least one left fixing member, the at least one right fixing member,
the at least one upper fixing member, and the at least one lower fixing
member may include two or more fixing members.

[0017] The PCB fixing device may further include an engaging portion
formed adjacent to one of the sliding holes and over the bottom surface
of the case.

[0018] The moving part may include: a lower moving part fastened to the
engaging portion; and an upper moving part installed between the lower
moving part and the board coupling part.

[0019] The position of the board coupling part may be adjusted as the
moving part moves along the sliding hole.

[0020] The fastening part may have a bolt shape, and the board coupling
part may have a coupling hole at a position corresponding to the
fastening part, the upper moving part may have an upper moving hole at a
position corresponding to the coupling hole, the lower moving part may
have a nut portion at a position corresponding to the upper moving hole,
and the fastening part may pass through the coupling hole and the upper
moving hole and be fastened to the nut portion.

[0021] The board coupling part may have a coupling groove into which the
edge of the circuit substrate is inserted.

[0022] An embodiment provides a flat panel display including: a flat
display panel for displaying an image; a case having a plurality of
sliding holes spaced apart from each other; a PCB attached to the case;
and a PCB fixing device for fixing the PCB to the case.

[0023] The PCB fixing device may include a plurality of fixing members
that move along the sliding holes, and engage with edges of the PCB to
fix the PCB.

[0024] Each of the fixing members may include: a moving part moving along
the sliding hole; a board coupling part installed on the moving part and
coupled to an edge of the PCB; and a fastening part fastening the board
coupling part and the moving part.

[0025] The board coupling part and the fastening part may be located on
the opposite side of the flat display panel with respect to the lower
case.

[0026] Each of The plurality of sliding holes may partly overlap with the
PCB.

[0027] According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible
to determine the position of a fixing member in conformation with the
size of the PCB and fix an edge of the PCB to the fixing member by moving
the fixing member along the sliding hole. Accordingly, the PCB fixing
device according to an embodiment is applicable to PCBs with various
sizes and structures, and can reduce loss resulting from a change in the
specification of a PCB.

[0028] Moreover, any coupling error generated between the PCB fixing
device and the PCB can be easily corrected because all the fixing members
are movable along the sliding holes.

[0029] In addition, even if there is a change in the positions of a jack,
a connector, an EMI shielding, etc. in the PCB, the PCB can be correctly
fixed in place by adjusting the positions of the fixing members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a PCB fixing device and a flat panel
display including the same according to one embodiment.

[0031]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the PCB fixing device according to one
embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a left fixing member of the PCB fixing
device according to one embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the left fixing member of the PCB
fixing device according to one embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the left fixing member of
the PCB fixing device according to one embodiment.

[0035]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the left fixing member of the
PCB fixing device according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would
realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different
ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention.

[0037] In order to clarify embodiments of the present invention, elements
extrinsic to the description are omitted from the details of this
description, and like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout the specification.

[0038] The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are
arbitrarily shown for better understanding and ease of description, and
thus the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0039] A PCB fixing device and a flat panel display including the same
according to one embodiment will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a PCB fixing device and a flat panel
display including the same according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear
view of the PCB fixing device according to one embodiment.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat panel display according to one
embodiment comprises a flat display panel 10 for displaying an image, a
case 30 covering the flat display panel 10, a PCB 50 attached to the case
30, and PCB fixing devices 60 for fixing the PCB 50 to the case 30.

[0042] The flat display panel may be a liquid crystal display panel, an
organic light emitting display panel, etc. The case 30 is provided for
protecting the flat display panel 10 from external impact and includes a
lower case 31 and an upper case 32. The lower case 31 has a plurality of
sliding holes 40 spaced apart from each other. The PCB 50 may be a drive
device, a switching mode power supply (SMPS), a signal controller (timing
controller), or the like, and the PCB 50 is attached to the top surface
of the lower case.

[0043] The plurality of sliding holes 40 formed in the lower case 31
include at least one left sliding hole 410, at least one right sliding
hole 420, at least one upper sliding hole 430, and a lower sliding hole
440, which extend in four directions, respectively. The left sliding hole
410 extends in a direction perpendicular to a left edge 51 of the PCB 50,
the right sliding hole 420 extends in a direction perpendicular to a
right edge 52 of the PCB 50, the upper sliding hole 430 extends in a
direction perpendicular to an upper edge 53 of the PCB 50, and the lower
sliding hole 440 extends in a direction perpendicular to a lower edge 54
of the PCB 50. The length d1 of the left sliding hole 410, the length d2
of the right sliding hole 420, the length d3 of the upper sliding hole,
and the length d4 of the lower sliding hole 440 may be different from
each other.

[0044] The at least one left sliding hole 410 has one or more sliding
holes. In one embodiment, the at least one left sliding hole 410 only
includes a first left sliding hole 410. The at least one right sliding
hole 420 has one or more sliding holes. In one embodiment, the at least
one right sliding hole 420 only includes a first right sliding hole 420.
The left sliding hole 410 and the right sliding hole 420 are disposed
alternately with each other, and the length d1 of the left sliding hole
410 and the length d2 of the right sliding hole 420 may be different from
each other.

[0045] The at least one upper sliding hole 430 has one or more sliding
holes. In one embodiment, the at least one upper sliding hole 430
includes a first upper sliding hole 431 and a second upper sliding hole
432 spaced at a predetermined distance from the first upper sliding hole
431. The length d31 of the first upper sliding hole 431 and the length
d32 of the second upper sliding hole 432 may be different from each
other.

[0046] In the same way, the at least one lower sliding hole 440 has one or
more sliding holes. In one embodiment, the at least one lower sliding
hole 440 includes a first lower sliding hole 441 and a second lower
sliding hole 442 spaced at a predetermined distance from the first lower
sliding hole 441. The length d41 of the first lower sliding hole 441 and
the length d42 of the second lower sliding hole 424 may be different from
each other.

[0047] A pair of engaging portions 70 is formed at a portion of the case
adjacent to each of the sliding holes 410, 420, 430, and 440 and over the
bottom surface of the case 30. The engaging portions 70 have a structure
in which a convexo-concave pattern or undulating pattern is repeated. In
one embodiment, two engaging portions 70 are installed at both sides of
and adjacent to each of the sliding holes 410, 420, 430, and 440.

[0048] The PCB fixing device 60 comprises a plurality of fixing members
610, 620, 630, and 640 which are movable along the plurality of sliding
holes 410, 420, 430, and 440, and the positions of the fixing members can
be adjusted. The plurality of fixing members 610, 620, 630, and 640 are
engaged with the four edges 51, 52, 53, and 54 of the PCB 50 and fix the
PCB 50 to the case.

[0049] The plurality of fixing members 610, 620, 630, and 640 comprise at
least one left fixing member 610 located in the at least one left sliding
hole 410, at least one right fixing member 620 located in the at least
one right sliding hole 420, at least one upper fixing member 630 located
in the at least one upper sliding hole 430, and at least one lower fixing
member 640 located in the at least one lower sliding hole 440.

[0050] The at least one left fixing member 610 has one or more fixing
members. In one embodiment, the at least one left fixing member 610
includes only a first left fixing member 610. The at least one right
fixing member 620 has one or more fixing members. In one embodiment, the
at least one right fixing member 620 includes only a first right fixing
member 620.

[0051] The at least one upper fixing member 630 has one or more fixing
members. In one embodiment, the at least one upper fixing member 630
includes a first upper fixing member 631 and a second upper fixing member
632 spaced at a predetermined distance from the first upper fixing member
631.

[0052] In the same way, the at least one lower fixing member 640 has one
or more fixing members. In one embodiment, the at least one lower fixing
member 640 includes a first lower fixing member 641 and a second lower
fixing member 642 spaced at a predetermined distance from the first lower
fixing member 641.

[0053] Specifically, the structure of the left fixing member 610 will be
described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In embodiments,
the structures of the left fixing member 620, the upper fixing member
630, and lower fixing member 640 are for the most part identical to the
structure of the left fixing member 610, but the invention is not limited
thereto.

[0054]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a left fixing member of the PCB fixing
device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a
left fixing member of the PCB fixing device according to one embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the left fixing member of the
PCB fixing device according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear
perspective view of the left fixing member of the PCB fixing device
according to one embodiment.

[0055] The left fixing member 610 includes a moving part 615 movable along
the left sliding hole 410, a board coupling part 613 installed on the
moving part 615 and coupled to the left edge 51 of the PCB 50, and a
fastening part 614 fastening the board coupling part 613 and the moving
part 615.

[0056] The moving part 615 includes a lower moving part 611 fastened to a
pair of engaging portions 70 and an upper moving part 612 is coupled to
the lower moving part 611 and disposed between the lower moving part 611
and the board coupling part 613. The lower moving part 611 includes a
cylinder portion 61 having a nut portion 61a formed therein and a
horizontal extending portion 62 horizontally extending from the bottom of
the cylinder portion 61.

[0057] Because a convexo-concave pattern is formed on the surface of the
horizontal extending portion 62, the horizontal extending portion 62 is
fastened to the pair of engaging portions 70 having a convexo-concave
pattern. The lower moving part 611 moves along the sliding hole 410. In
one embodiment, the lower moving part 611 can be moved sequentially by a
predetermined distance by the pair of engaging portions 70, but not
limited thereto.

[0058] The upper moving part 612 covers the cylinder portion 61 of the
lower moving part 611, and is located on the upper surface of the case,
i.e., the opposite side of the flat display panel 10 with respect to the
case. The fastening part 614 passes through the upper moving part 612
because the upper moving part 612 has an upper moving hole 612a provided
at a position corresponding to the nut portion 61a of the lower moving
part 611.

[0059] The board coupling part 613 includes a horizontal portion 63
located on the upper moving part 612 and being in contact with the upper
moving part 612 and a coupling groove portion 64 extending from the
horizontal portion 63 and having a coupling groove or recess 613b. The
fastening part 614 passes through the horizontal portion 63 because a
coupling hole 613a is formed at a position corresponding to the upper
moving hole 612a. The left edge 51 of the PCB 50 is inserted into the
coupling groove 613b of the board coupling part 613, and hence the left
edge 51 of the PCB 50 is supported.

[0060] The fastening part 614 has a bolt shape, passes through the
coupling groove 613a of the board coupling portion 613 and the upper
moving hole 612a of the upper moving part 612, and is fastened to the nut
portion 61a of the lower moving part 611. By tightening the fastening
part 614 of the left fixing member 610, the fastening part 614 of the
left fixing member 610 is fastened to the nut portion 61a of the lower
moving portion 611, and therefore the position of the left fixing member
610 is fixed.

[0061] As discussed above, the left fixing member 610 can be moved along
the left sliding hole 410 to determine the fixed position of the left
fixing member 610 according to the size of the PCB 50 and fix the left
edge 51 of the PCB 50 to the left fixing member 610. The same is
applicable to the right fixing member 620, the upper fixing member 630,
and the lower fixing member 640. Accordingly, the PCB fixing device 60
according to one embodiment is applicable to PCBs 50 of various sizes and
structures.

[0062] Moreover, any coupling error generated between the PCB fixing
device 60 and the PCB 50 can be easily corrected because all of the left
fixing member 610, the right fixing member 620, the upper fixing member
630, and the lower fixing member 640 are movable along the sliding holes
410, 420, 430, and 440.

[0063] In addition, even if there is a change in the positions of a jack
81, a connector 82, an EMI shield 83, etc. of the PCB 50, the PCB 50 can
be fixed by adjusting the positions of the fixing members 610, 620, 630,
and 640.

[0064] While this disclosure has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on
the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.